How to Grow Beaked Hazelnut

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How to Grow Beaked Hazelnut

Overview

Beaked hazelnut trees are found along the northwest coast of America and British Columbia and also throughout the Appalachian mountain range in Alabama and Georgia. It is a small, tender tree that produces long catkins and small, red flowers. The catkins fill with pollen throughout the fall and pollinate the red flowers in spring. The tree, or more often called shrub, then produces small, acorn-like nuts that are stored in husks with elongated tails resembling beaks. The shrub can be found along the edge of forests, roadsides, streams and slopes.

Step 1

Obtain a cutting of beaked hazelnut from your local supplier or order it online. Growing hazelnut from seed can be done but is difficult as germination rates tend to be extremely low.

Step 2

Find the permanent location for your hazelnut shrub. It tolerates shade but will produce more vibrant flowers in full sun. It breaks under severe wind and needs to be planted near a barrier. Beaked hazelnut works well along the edge of tall fences, trees or near your house.

Step 3

Prepare the soil and dig the hole for your shrub. Measure the height of the shrub's root ball and match the hole's depth to that measurement. Widen the hole enough to accommodate the root ball, allowing three to four inches of space of each side.

Step 4

Mix equal parts of compost and native soil taken from the hole. Add one or two handfuls of sand to create a sandy yet water-retentive consistency.

Step 5

Separate the roots of the shrub and gently wet them if they are dry. Gently place the tree into the hole and begin filling it with the compost mixture. Once the hole is half-filled, add water to the hole and wait for the soil to settle. This will eliminate any open pockets of air near the roots. Add more of the compost mixture until the hole is completely filled in.

Step 6

Water the shrub, wait for the soil to settle and fill in any areas of exposed roots. Hazelnut has been known to grow in wet areas, so the soil should always be moist. However, do not over water the shrub to the point that it is standing in water. Add a two-inch layer of mulch around the stem to conserve moisture.

Step 7

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer every spring. To encourage more blooms and fruit production, use a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus.

Step 8

Harvest the nuts in late summer or early fall when the husks turn brown. You will have to begin harvesting as soon as the color darkens since squirrels and other wildlife will begin harvesting as well.

Things You'll Need

Compost

Sand

Balanced fertilizer

Water

References

Beaked Hazelnut: Forestry Project

Beaked Hazelnut (PDF)

Plant Guide (PDF)

Who Can Help

Hazelnut Harvest

Keywords:
small tender tree, harvest early fall, long catkins

About this Author

Lily Obeck is a copywriter based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She writes for print, online, outdoor and broadcast marketing, with expertise in health, education and lifestyle topics. Obeck holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Texas and works as a part-time children's library assistant.